This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/812844300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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Summary
The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Foreign Service Regional Public Engagement Specialists (RPES) positions. Learn more about Foreign Service careers at https://careers.state.gov.
There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.
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Overview
- Reviewing applications
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Open & closing dates
10/08/2024 to 10/29/2024
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Salary
$98,697 - $144,940 per year
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Pay scale & grade
FP 03
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Location
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Department of State Posts - Overseas and Domestic MANY vacancies
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Remote job
No
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Telework eligible
No
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Travel Required
75% or less - Foreign Service Specialists generally spend the majority of their careers assigned to overseas missions and at times, live away from family and/or in difficult or isolated conditions.
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Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes— Upon completing orientation and initial training in Washington, D.C., employees are assigned to two sequential tours, typically two-years each, directed by the Department. These entry-level assignments may be overseas or in the United States. After the initial two tours, employees have greater choice as to the location, length, and substantive nature of assignments.
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Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent after tenure granted by a Foreign Service Specialist Tenure Board.
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Work schedule
Full-Time
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Service
Excepted
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Promotion potential
01
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Job family (Series)
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Supervisory status
Yes
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Security clearance
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Drug test
No
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Announcement number
RPES-2025-0001
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Control number
812844300
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This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Must be a U.S. citizen. Candidates should read the entire announcement to ensure they meet all requirements. Candidates may reapply one year after their most recent date of application submission for the same position. Candidates may not apply if a State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years for any position, (except if the denial was for a DS Special Agent (SA) candidate whose denial was based solely on the unique requirements for SAs).
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Duties
Foreign Service Regional Public Engagement Specialists (RPES) are experienced professional leaders with expertise in information resources and the management of American Spaces, the U.S. government’s primary public cultural and information centers abroad. RPES, under the leadership of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) Office of American Spaces, and Public Diplomacy sections at U.S. missions, provide professional expertise and program support to over 600 American Spaces located at U.S. embassies and consulates, and at partner institutions. ECA is the Department’s bureau that works to build friendly, peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships. American Spaces are centers to promote engagement with audiences around the world on issues of importance to U.S. foreign policy, and on U.S. culture and values. RPES serve in 23 overseas locations (Accra, Almaty, Amman, Beijing, Belgrade, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Dakar, Hanoi, Islamabad, Jakarta, Kigali, Kyiv, Mexico City, Nairobi, New Delhi, Panama, Pretoria, Riga, Rome, Suva, and Vienna) and Washington, D.C. and provide professional direction and guidance to American Spaces within their assigned portfolio of 2-12 countries.
TASKS AT BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS (ECA) AND WASHINGTON-BASED OFFICES
Advisory Functions: Advises Department officials and other stakeholders in Washington, D.C. on American Spaces program environments. Advises overseas posts on American Spaces programming and operations; monitors trends; reports on the impact of American spaces; and files consultation reports.
Development of Programs: Proposes new programs, serves as a member of program development teams, and tests and evaluates program outcomes.
Administrative Functions: Manages fiscal resources, advises on funding sources for American Spaces, maintains currency of centralized databases, and ensures accountability.
Advocacy/Promoting Functions: Promotes American Spaces programs, awareness of American Spaces within the Department and among U.S. stakeholders, optimizes use of Bureau programs, and liaises with American academic, library, information, and cultural institution communities.
Specialist Expertise: Provides and applies specialist knowledge focused on public access to reliable, correct, and timely information and resources, and outreach to a wide range of audiences focused on identified priority subjects.
TASKS AT OVERSEAS MISSIONS AND AMERICAN SPACES ASSIGNED TO RPES PORTFOLIO
Engagement with Public Diplomacy Officials: Participates in public diplomacy programs, conducts official travel related to advisory and consultative services to PD sections, provides specialized expertise in information resources, troubleshoots on behalf of post, and promotes institutional linkages.
American Spaces Management: Develops strategic plans, provides expertise in the management of venues, such as libraries, museums, makerspaces, cultural spaces, and other related centers, assesses local information landscape, evaluates American Spaces collections, and advises on library/information/resource practice and standards.
American Spaces Supervision of Locally Employed (LE) Staff and Partner Coordinators: Conducts needs assessments, trains staff, hosts regional and topical workshops, writes position descriptions, participates in staff recruitment, and builds professional communities.
American Spaces Program Oversight: Promotes best practices, conducts outreach to library, tech, business, and cultural institution professionals and broader NGO and private sector community, develops collection resources, oversees programs, advises staff on the management of American spaces, recruits participants for exchanges, promotes use of new technologies, advises on copyright compliance, and advises on purchases/acquisitions.
Partner American Spaces and Binational Centers: Advises on viability of partnerships with American Space host institutions, clears on memoranda of understanding and other agreements, assesses compliance with American Spaces standards, advises on library/media collections, participates in partner programming, promotes best practices for partners, trains partner staff, and oversees partner grants.
Specialist Expertise: Provides and applies specialist knowledge focused on public access to reliable, correct, and timely information and resources, curating information, and outreach to a wide range of overseas audiences focused on identified priority subjects.
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the FS.*
- Be able to obtain/maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
- Be able to meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
- Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
- Be at least 20 years old at application and 21 years old to be appointed.
- Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).***
Foreign Service Regional Public Engagement Specialists are experienced professional leaders with expertise in information resources and the management of libraries, makerspaces, cultural spaces, and other related centers. They are expected to interact with the global network of American Spaces, U.S. embassies and consulates, partner institutions, and the thousands of U.S. government and partner staff who operate them.
A Regional Public Engagement Specialist must adhere to the highest standards of integrity, dependability, attention to detail, teamwork and cooperation while accepting the need to travel frequently, to live overseas, and when necessary, to live away from family.
Qualifications
Specialized Experience demonstrates the candidate has acquired, and is able to apply, a combination of specific knowledge, skills and abilities appropriate to a Foreign Service RPES position. Candidates must demonstrate that their job-related experience has been at progressively increasing levels of performance and responsibility through such indicators as promotions, raises, increases in duties and responsibilities, and organizational and employee impact. Candidates must possess at least 10 years of Specialized Experience.
Examples of Specialized Experience include:
- Experience in managing libraries, makerspaces, cultural spaces, and other related centers to include working with diverse public audiences, overseeing and advising on operations, understanding security risks and planning developing policies to support public access and accessibility, and upgrading and replacing equipment, furnishings, and resources.
- Experience providing information and making recommendations to leadership teams affecting libraries, makerspaces, cultural centers, and other related centers based on input and data from their respective communities. Experience in supervising and developing staff and coordinating public outreach activities and programs for diverse audiences.
- Experience implementing strategic planning, program design and assessment, and evaluation principles related to public outreach, with some experience in their applications in a multicultural setting preferred.
- Experience developing and delivering training and professional development programs for adult learners. Experience in conducting staff training needs assessments, designing experiential learning activities, and facilitating training for diverse professional audiences.
- Experience with financial mechanisms to include program budgets, contracts and grants management, reviewing funding proposals, and monitoring and evaluating program performance and effectiveness.
Candidates should demonstrate a strong command of the English language to include grammar, word usage, spelling, and punctuation. Foreign Service Specialists must consistently meet a high standard for English, both written (overall structure as well as grammar, spelling, and punctuation) and spoken (overall structure as well as delivery, clarity, and succinctness).
Formal experience studying a foreign language or demonstrated ability using a foreign language is desirable, but not required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The Department has conducted extensive job analysis research to determine Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and other attributes conducive to successful performance in this position. A candidate’s education level, work experience, and other qualifications will be considered as part of the hiring decision-making process based on these KSA criteria. Not all of these attributes need to be met by a candidate; the attributes will be used as a set to evaluate candidates.
Knowledge of:
- Library, Museum, and/or Cultural Center Management: Experience in managing a library, museum, and/or cultural center that offers public programs. Knowledge of policies governing public access, resources, technology, and security, as referenced in the American Library Association’s Core Competencies of Librarianship.
- Public Outreach, Applied Technology and Community Engagement: Knowledge of trends in public outreach, applied technology, and community-oriented reimagined spaces to attract, cultivate and impact audiences to promote organizational objectives. Some knowledge of data science principles and the ability to promote a data-driven mindset to guide decisions.
- Information Products and Services: Knowledgeable in the principles of reference services and collection development to recommend, interpret, evaluate, disseminate and/or use information resources to promote information literacy and media literacy.
- Project Management: Ability to plan and designate project resources, prepare budgets, monitor progress, and keep stakeholders informed on American Spaces projects, including renovation and construction projects.
- U.S. Culture: Basic knowledge of U.S. culture, values and customs, political and social institutions, history, and contemporary affairs.
- Fiscal Management Principles: Ability to manage budget and fiscal resources in support of public outreach and programming.
- Team and Personnel Management: Ability to direct and coordinate the activities of team members and staff, assess performance, assign tasks, motivate team members and staff, plan and organize, and establish a positive atmosphere.
Skills in:
- Public Access to Information and Community Outreach: Advanced applicable skill in providing public access to reliable, correct, and timely information and resources, and outreach to a wide range of audiences focused on identified priority subjects.
- Emerging Information Technology and Digital Platforms: Advanced applicable skill in using current and emerging information technology (e.g., social media, web and mobile technology) for public outreach and analyzing its effectiveness to meet organizational objectives.
- Outreach and Promotional Strategies: Ability to keep abreast of evolving community needs and promote a slate of programs, services and partnerships to develop programming to meet learning goals in support of organizational objectives.
- Change Management: Advanced interpersonal and management skills in order to motivate individuals and teams transitioning to new organizational goals, structures and/or ways of working (e.g., transition to cloud, social, mobile environments, collaborative team-based environments, changed reporting patterns).
- Training: Ability to conduct training needs assessments, design experiential learning activities, and facilitate training for staff on American Spaces programming and operations.
- Program Evaluation: Skills in evaluating a diverse range of outreach initiatives and programming services, with strong monitoring skills to manage grants and contracts.
Partner Relationships: Skills in establishing new models of collaboration and strengthening partnerships with multiple stakeholders to achieve organizational objectives.
- Organizational Management: Advanced skill in planning, organizing, and managing human and fiscal resources to bring about the successful completion of projects that support or achieve defined goals.
- Public Speaking and Presentations: Advanced communication skills to publicly articulate and explain objectives, societal norms and values, both in current and historical contexts, in order to advance understanding.
- Cross Cultural Environments: Ability to work effectively with embassy local staff and professional colleagues from host country institutions to design, implement, evaluate, and promote programming in a cross-cultural environment.
- Budget Management: Experience in preparing and monitoring budget and financial reports in order to assure that funds are used appropriately.
- Staff Development: Ability to assess staff professional development needs, including American Spaces staff and coordinators, and advise PDS teams on the appropriate procedures to meet those needs. Ability to supervise and effectively manage the performance of subordinates and develop staff involved in American Spaces activities.
Ability to:
- Formulate Strategic Goals: Ability to request and explain positions on policy issues to internal and external audiences and stakeholders, and to develop and execute strategies to achieve organizational objectives.
- Align Abilities and Talent with Organizational Vision: Ability to adapt individual abilities and talents to align with a larger organization’s strategic goals and objectives.
- Locate, curate and adapt information from a wide variety of sources to achieve a programmatic objective.
Other Requirements: Openness for international career: Accept assignments based on the needs of the Foreign Service, experiencing frequent global travel.
Education
At the time of application, candidates MUST possess a Master’s degree (or higher) from an accredited U.S. graduate program in one of the following fields, or closely-related fields, and 10 years of Specialized Experience out of the last 15 years.
- Library and Information Science
- Museum Studies
- Education
- Public Administration
- Strategic Communications
Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited at the time of program completion by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation.
Foreign Education
Foreign education acquired outside of any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any territory or possession of the U.S. must be evaluated by a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services (NACES or AICE) in order to be given credit towards qualification.
- The accredited interpretation must include the summary and the foreign education transcripts.
- Foreign education transcripts that have not been evaluated by a credential evaluation service will not be accepted and the candidacy will be terminated.
For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, please refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Foreign Education section, and the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of State neither endorses nor recommends any individual evaluation service.
OPM: www.opm.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Please refer to the Required Documents Section on how to submit the required educational documentation for this position.
Additional information
*EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
U.S. law requires organizations to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee’s information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated.
**The U.S. Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov.
***For more information about Veteran’s Preference and how it is applied in the selection process, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/faq-items/are-veterans-given-hiring-preference/.
No candidate will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under sections §607, §608, §610 or §611 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions. In addition, no candidate will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section §306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof.
A Foreign Service Specialist separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section 306 may not re-apply to be a Foreign Service Specialist in the same skill code but may apply for another skill code or to be a Foreign Service Generalist.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all of its employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors.
The U.S. Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to candidates with disabilities. Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodations in advance. For more information visit Requesting Reasonable Accommodations - Careers (state.gov). Decisions for granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Benefits include health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, and paid leave. Overseas benefits include tax-free housing overseas, tax-free education allowance for dependent children between K-12 overseas, and an unrivaled opportunity to see the world and experience different cultures.
The salary range listed is extracted from the Foreign Service Overseas and Washington pay scales. The starting step is determined in part by highest educational level achieved and professional experience level beyond the minimum qualifications. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on highest previous rate as a federal employee. For more information on salary, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/benefits/benefits/.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials to include responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response. Candidates must create their own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. The Department analyzes candidate submissions for plagiarism and will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this plagiarism policy.
While the Department of State encourages candidates to create their narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The Department will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application process.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Benefits include health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, and paid leave. Overseas benefits include tax-free housing overseas, tax-free education allowance for dependent children between K-12 overseas, and an unrivaled opportunity to see the world and experience different cultures.
The salary range listed is extracted from the Foreign Service Overseas and Washington pay scales. The starting step is determined in part by highest educational level achieved and professional experience level beyond the minimum qualifications. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on highest previous rate as a federal employee. For more information on salary, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/benefits/benefits/.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure all documents are uploaded and the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement.
PDF documents are required. The candidacy will be terminated if the required documents do not meet the requirements or if the application is incomplete.
- Resume from USAJobs Resume Builder, the only resume format accepted for this Vacancy Announcement.
- Candidates must answer all questions, include 10-years of work history, and complete the Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest. Applications missing responses will be terminated.
- Accomplishments Questionnaire/Personal Narratives and Statement of Interest
These questions provide an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from the candidate’s education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate their qualifications for becoming a RPES. Examples can be drawn from any part of the candidate’s professional/personal experience. Each response is limited to 300 words or fewer for each item. Compose carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Information in cover letters, resumes, or CVs, but not included in the application, will not be accepted/reviewed. - Accomplishments Questionnaire questions:
- Leadership Skills: Describe a specific example of your leadership skills to bring multiple stakeholders together on an initiative and explain how this experience might apply to the Regional Public Engagement Specialist position.
- Intellectual Skills: Describe a specific example of when you used intellectual skills to respond to unanticipated circumstances in a multicultural setting to solve a problem. Explain the results of your actions and describe how you might apply the experience to the Regional Public Engagement Specialist position.
- Communication Skills: Describe a situation in which you used your oral or written communication, including foreign language and/or cross-cultural communication skills if appropriate, to further an aim or achieve a goal.
- Management Skills: Describe how you evaluated the success of a project, assessed its long-term effects, if any, and how you might apply the experience to the Regional Public Engagement Specialist position.
- Interpersonal Skills: Describe how you have used your interpersonal skills in a specific situation to resolve a problem or achieve a goal.
- Substantive Knowledge: Describe your skills, knowledge and experience that are applicable to performing the work described in this Vacancy Announcement including experience in supervision and performance management of subordinate staff.
- Statement of Interest
This narrative should discuss:
- Motivation for joining the Foreign Service.
- Relevant work experience, including any unique strengths not previously mentioned, such as special skills (e.g. computer skills), current licenses, certifications, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and/or training (with date completed) relating to this position.
- Experience living or working in a multicultural environment, overseas or in the United States.
- Education and Other Documents
Candidates must submit the following documentation to demonstrate that they possess the educational level required for this position or the candidacy will be terminated. University diplomas are not accepted in lieu of transcripts. Transcripts must comply with the following requirements, or the candidacy will be terminated.
- Official or unofficial college or university transcripts. Candidates should not submit university diplomas in lieu of higher education transcripts.
Transcripts must comply with the following requirements to be accepted:
- Must be sent in PDF format. Any other format will be rejected.
- Must be an attachment. Documents sent via link, secured message, or any other non-attachment format, or sent directly from credential evaluation services will be rejected.
- Must include the candidate’s name, the school’s name, the degree and date awarded/conferred.
- Must have no missing pages.
- Must be legible.
- All foreign education transcripts must adhere to additional requirements. See Foreign Education information in the Education Requirements section.
- Submit Veteran’s Preference documentation for candidates aged 60 to 64. If claiming Veteran’s Preference, a copy of the candidate’s DD-214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" that must include the candidate’s Character of Service must be submitted with the application. If claiming a 10-point Veteran’s Preference, the candidate’s VA letter and SF-15 must be submitted in addition to the DD-214. A certification from the armed forces is required only if a veteran has not yet received their DD-214. It must confirm that the service member is expected to be discharged under honorable conditions within 120 days and include service dates, expected discharge date, character of service, and any applicable disability rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
It is the candidate’s responsibility complete and submit the application and all required documents before the closing deadline. There are no exceptions.
- From this Vacancy Announcement, click on “Apply.” Go to the USAJobs Log In screen and log in to your USAJobs account or follow the link and instructions to create an account.
- Follow the USAJobs Application Process and provide your required USAJobs federal online resume.
- USAJobs will transfer you to the U.S. State Department agency online application site, Monster Government Service (MGS). Follow the instructions to answer the online questions. The Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest responses must be completed in the online application. You may save your work and can return to the application from USAJobs at any time prior to the deadline.
- Submit required documentation using one of the three methods the application system allows:
- Transfer documents from a USAJOBS portfolio;
- Upload documents from your computer; or
- Resubmit documents from a previous application
- After attaching all required supporting documentation, answering all required application questions, and completing the application steps, review the entire application packet, including the submitted documents.
- Confirm and submit your application package, which will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
Candidates experiencing technical difficulties with the application must contact the Monster Help Desk by calling 1-866-656-6830 or by emailing mgshelp@monster.com. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
For more information on the Foreign Service Specialist hiring processes, please visit our FAQs at http://careers.state.gov/faqs.
Agency contact information
GTM/TAC/BEX
- Address
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U.S. Department of State
2401 E. Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20522
United States
Next steps
After the close of the announcement, the application status in USAJobs will say "Reviewing Applications." This status on USAJobs will not be updated further. You can click on "Track this application" for more information.
Candidates will be notified by e-mail from the U.S. Department of State about the outcome of the initial application review and if they will be further considered for this Foreign Service position. We recommend adding the Department of State domain (@state.gov) as an approved sender.
Due to the high volume of applications, we ask all candidates to remain patient and await communication. It is not uncommon for several months to pass before you are informed of the results of your applications.
The Department will invite candidates who pass the qualifications review process to participate in the Virtual Foreign Service Specialist Assessment (VFSSA). For more information, please visit our FAQs at http://careers.state.gov/faqs.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
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Required Documents
It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure all documents are uploaded and the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement.
PDF documents are required. The candidacy will be terminated if the required documents do not meet the requirements or if the application is incomplete.
- Resume from USAJobs Resume Builder, the only resume format accepted for this Vacancy Announcement.
- Candidates must answer all questions, include 10-years of work history, and complete the Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest. Applications missing responses will be terminated.
- Accomplishments Questionnaire/Personal Narratives and Statement of Interest
These questions provide an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from the candidate’s education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate their qualifications for becoming a RPES. Examples can be drawn from any part of the candidate’s professional/personal experience. Each response is limited to 300 words or fewer for each item. Compose carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Information in cover letters, resumes, or CVs, but not included in the application, will not be accepted/reviewed. - Accomplishments Questionnaire questions:
- Leadership Skills: Describe a specific example of your leadership skills to bring multiple stakeholders together on an initiative and explain how this experience might apply to the Regional Public Engagement Specialist position.
- Intellectual Skills: Describe a specific example of when you used intellectual skills to respond to unanticipated circumstances in a multicultural setting to solve a problem. Explain the results of your actions and describe how you might apply the experience to the Regional Public Engagement Specialist position.
- Communication Skills: Describe a situation in which you used your oral or written communication, including foreign language and/or cross-cultural communication skills if appropriate, to further an aim or achieve a goal.
- Management Skills: Describe how you evaluated the success of a project, assessed its long-term effects, if any, and how you might apply the experience to the Regional Public Engagement Specialist position.
- Interpersonal Skills: Describe how you have used your interpersonal skills in a specific situation to resolve a problem or achieve a goal.
- Substantive Knowledge: Describe your skills, knowledge and experience that are applicable to performing the work described in this Vacancy Announcement including experience in supervision and performance management of subordinate staff.
- Statement of Interest
This narrative should discuss:
- Motivation for joining the Foreign Service.
- Relevant work experience, including any unique strengths not previously mentioned, such as special skills (e.g. computer skills), current licenses, certifications, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and/or training (with date completed) relating to this position.
- Experience living or working in a multicultural environment, overseas or in the United States.
- Education and Other Documents
Candidates must submit the following documentation to demonstrate that they possess the educational level required for this position or the candidacy will be terminated. University diplomas are not accepted in lieu of transcripts. Transcripts must comply with the following requirements, or the candidacy will be terminated.
- Official or unofficial college or university transcripts. Candidates should not submit university diplomas in lieu of higher education transcripts.
Transcripts must comply with the following requirements to be accepted:
- Must be sent in PDF format. Any other format will be rejected.
- Must be an attachment. Documents sent via link, secured message, or any other non-attachment format, or sent directly from credential evaluation services will be rejected.
- Must include the candidate’s name, the school’s name, the degree and date awarded/conferred.
- Must have no missing pages.
- Must be legible.
- All foreign education transcripts must adhere to additional requirements. See Foreign Education information in the Education Requirements section.
- Submit Veteran’s Preference documentation for candidates aged 60 to 64. If claiming Veteran’s Preference, a copy of the candidate’s DD-214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" that must include the candidate’s Character of Service must be submitted with the application. If claiming a 10-point Veteran’s Preference, the candidate’s VA letter and SF-15 must be submitted in addition to the DD-214. A certification from the armed forces is required only if a veteran has not yet received their DD-214. It must confirm that the service member is expected to be discharged under honorable conditions within 120 days and include service dates, expected discharge date, character of service, and any applicable disability rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help
Learn more about this agency
How to Apply
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
It is the candidate’s responsibility complete and submit the application and all required documents before the closing deadline. There are no exceptions.
- From this Vacancy Announcement, click on “Apply.” Go to the USAJobs Log In screen and log in to your USAJobs account or follow the link and instructions to create an account.
- Follow the USAJobs Application Process and provide your required USAJobs federal online resume.
- USAJobs will transfer you to the U.S. State Department agency online application site, Monster Government Service (MGS). Follow the instructions to answer the online questions. The Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest responses must be completed in the online application. You may save your work and can return to the application from USAJobs at any time prior to the deadline.
- Submit required documentation using one of the three methods the application system allows:
- Transfer documents from a USAJOBS portfolio;
- Upload documents from your computer; or
- Resubmit documents from a previous application
- After attaching all required supporting documentation, answering all required application questions, and completing the application steps, review the entire application packet, including the submitted documents.
- Confirm and submit your application package, which will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
Candidates experiencing technical difficulties with the application must contact the Monster Help Desk by calling 1-866-656-6830 or by emailing mgshelp@monster.com. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
For more information on the Foreign Service Specialist hiring processes, please visit our FAQs at http://careers.state.gov/faqs.
Agency contact information
GTM/TAC/BEX
- Address
-
U.S. Department of State
2401 E. Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20522
United States
Next steps
After the close of the announcement, the application status in USAJobs will say "Reviewing Applications." This status on USAJobs will not be updated further. You can click on "Track this application" for more information.
Candidates will be notified by e-mail from the U.S. Department of State about the outcome of the initial application review and if they will be further considered for this Foreign Service position. We recommend adding the Department of State domain (@state.gov) as an approved sender.
Due to the high volume of applications, we ask all candidates to remain patient and await communication. It is not uncommon for several months to pass before you are informed of the results of your applications.
The Department will invite candidates who pass the qualifications review process to participate in the Virtual Foreign Service Specialist Assessment (VFSSA). For more information, please visit our FAQs at http://careers.state.gov/faqs.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Beginning of a dialog window for the agency announcing this job. It begins with a heading 2 called "Learn more about Field Operating Offices of the Office of the Secretary of the Army". Escape will cancel and close the window.
Learn more about
Department of State - Agency Wide
Agency contact information
GTM/TAC/BEX
- Address
-
U.S. Department of State
2401 E. Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20522
United States